Vazquez scored Madrid's 11th-minute equaliser and Asensio worked tirelessly in attack and defence in Wednesday's 3-1 win at Leganes, which moves the reigning champions up to third in La Liga.

The Spain international duo came to the fore as Cristiano Ronaldo was given the match off and Gareth Bale was rested on the bench, only heightening the perception that they arguably deserve more than the status of mere understudies in a squad punching below their weight this season.